Multiplaten press system with individual charging sheets



, 13, 8 'K. LOEWENFELD ETAL" 3,368,242

MULTIPLATEN PRESS SYSTEM WITH INDIVIDUAL CHARGING SHEETS Filed Nov.'19,- 1965 v 5 Shts-Sheet 1 Kurf Loewen feld Wqlfgang Reiners In vemors.

Attorney 1963 K. LOEWENFELD ETAL 3,368,242

MULTIPLATEN PRESS SYSTEM WITH INDIVIDUAL CHARGING SHEETS Filed NOV. 19,1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm m MM m5 mw Attorney F 1968 K. LOEWENFELD/ ETALMULTIPLATEN PRESS SY$TEM WITH INDIVIDUAL CHARGING SHEETS 5 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed Nov, 19, 1965 Ku'rf 'Loewenfeld Wolfgang Reiners Inventors.

Attorney Feb. 13, 1968 Filed Nov. 19, 1965 LOEWENFELD ETAL MULTIPLAT'ENPRESS S ISTEM WITH INDIVIDUAL CHARGING SHEETS s l q 5 7V8 v MM 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 5C

INVENTORS 1 Kurt Loewenfeld ,Wolfgang Reiners T 00 Attorney Feb. 13,1968 K. LOEWENFELD ET AL 3,368,242

MULTIPLATEN PRESS SYSTEM WITH INDIVIDUAL CHARGING SHEETS Filed Nov. 19,1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS: Kurf Loewen feld f 3W Attorney WolfgangReiners United States Patent Oflice 3,358,242 Patented Feb. 13, 19683,368,242 MULTIPLATEN PRESS SYSTEM WITH INDIVIDUAL CHARGING SHEETS KurtLoewenfeid and Wolfgang Reiners, Krefeld, Germany, assignors t Firma G.Siempelkamp & Co., a

corporation of Germany Filed Nov. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 508,653 Claimspriority, appiication Germany, Aug. 10, 1965,

7 Claims. ((31. 1817) Our present invention relates to apparatus for themanufacture of so-called pressed board and like ma terials whereinloosely coherent or noncoherent layers of fibrous, granular or powderymaterial, generally in the presence of a binder, are compressed onrespective platens of a multi-opening or multiplaten press into coherentsheets, boards and the like. More particularly, the present inventionpertains to a multiplaten press system of this type.

Multiplaten presses for the production of fiberboard from comminutedwood or other cellulosic materials, have become commonplace in thepressed-board industry and much effort has gone into improving thecharging and discharging of such presses. It has been proposed, forexample, to charge and discharge the presses with the aid of flexiblesupports for the mats of loosely coherent material to be pressed, thesesupports being drawn across the press platen and serving as chargingsheets which are fed into the press from one side and are drawn out ofthe press at the other side. For the most part, these chargingsheets arerigid although there has been some use of flexible, generally stainlesssteel, layers capable of being coiled upon a reel or other device. Theconsiderable mechanical stress to which these layers are subjected, hasrendered their use impractical for most purposes.

It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, toprovide an improved multiplaten press system capable of rapid chargingand discharging.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a multiplatenpress system with improved but relatively simple and inexpensive meansfor discharging completed press board from the press.

These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter areattained, in accordance with the present invention, in a multiplatenpress, preferably of the simultaneous-closing type described in US.Patent No. 3,050,- 777, issued Aug. 28, 1962, to E. Siernpelkamp, andproided with stepped abutment means wherein each of the verticallyspaced platens is provided with a respective flexible feed-transferlayer overlying the platen and a respective roller means along adischarge edge of each platen for coiling or winding up the respectivefeedtransfer layer. Advantageously, the roller means is provided with acontinuous drive mechanism capable of slippage and continuously applyingtorque to the roller means in the wind-up sense, while the free end ofthe sheet-transport layer or underlay is provided with extending meansfor drawing the layer across the platen to receive the mat to bepressed. The extending means includes a transverse bar at the free endof the layer cooperating with locking means on the respective platen orpress-housing for releasably retaining the free end of the layer in itsextended condition against the force of the torque-applying drive meansat least during the compression stroke of the press. The locking meanscan comprise a pair of bellcrank levers pivotally mounted on oppositesides of the layer and having formations engageable in respectiveformations of the transverse bar.

This arrangement has been found to permit rapid charging and dischargingof the press and greatly simplifies at least the discharging operation.The discharging apparatus can be of relatively limited cost as willbecome apparant hereinafter, while conventional charging and dischargingequipment can be used in conjunction with the improved system, therebyfurther decreasing the plant costs of a multiplaten press system.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a multiplaten press embodying the invention,diagrammatically illustrating the drive means for the roller assembliesof the respective platens;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of a platen of the press ofFIG. 1, showing in detail the locking means co-operating with the freeend of the sheettransfer layer;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of themultiplaten press of FIG. 1 and illustrating in greater detail thesheet-transfer layer and its extending means;

FIGS. 5A-5C are diagrammatic plan views of a multiplaten press systemembodying the invention; and

FIGS. 6A6C are further plan views of another embodiment of this system.

Referring first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that an installation for theproduction of fiber board, press board and the like from sawdust, woodfibers and other comminuted cellulosic materials or other pulverulent,granular or fibrous substances with or without thermoplastic orthermosetting binders, comprises a multiplaten press having a frame orhousing and individual, vertically spaced horizontal platens 1, adaptedto receive respective mats of loosely coherent fibers or other materialsto be pressed. The press 50 may be provided with a simultaneous-closuredevice as described in US. Patent No. 3,050,777 or US. Patent No.3,209,405 issued Oct. 5, 1965, and advantageously has a stepped abutmentdevice for retaining the open platens in spaced relationship asdescribed in the aforementioned copending application. The closuredevice and the abutment means are not illustrated in FIG. 1 in order notto obscure the specific features of the press to which the presentimprovements are directed. As can be seen from FIG. 4, each of theplatens 1 is provided at its discharge end (right-hand side in FIG. 4)with a roller means 3 whose shaft or core 4 is adapted to reel up asheet-transfer layer 2 of flexible polytetrafluoroethylene foil, thislayer 2 overlying the respective platen 1 when withdrawn from the rollermeans by an extending means 10, 11 in the direction of arrow 6. The foillayers 2 of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) can be reinforced, ifdesired, by a fabric layer underlying the synthetic-resin layer orimbedded therein.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C wherein the principles of this inventionare diagrammatically illustrated, it will be seen that the system ofthis invention can comprise the press StiA and the apparatus associatedtherewith and to be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS.14, as well as a charging station 511A at the input side of the press, adischarging station 52A at the output side of the press, the extendingmeans 11A for drawing the free end of the layer 2A from the spool orroller means 3A, and locking means diagrammatically shown at 9A forengaging a transverse bar 7A at the free end of the sheet-transfer layer2A.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the extending rneans 11A have drawn the freeend of the layer 2A to the left onto the respective stages of theloading station 51A whereupon loosely coherent mats 53A of cellulosicmaterial can be deposited upon the layer 2A via movable conveyor beltsof the type illustrated at the press-charging side of the system of U.S.Patent No. 3,077,271, issued Feb. 12, 1963 to E. Siempelkamp. When eachof the vertically spaced horizontal layers 2A has received its mat 53A,the extending means 11A can be released to permit the continuouslyoperable drive means for the roller means 3A to draw the layer 2A to theright (FIG. B) thereby winding up the layer 2A and disposing the mat 53Aon the platens 1A of the press. In this position, the transverse bar 7Aat the free end of each layer 2A is engaged by the locking means 9A toretain the free end of each layer against further displacement to theright under still effective force of the drive means. The press nowcommences its compression operation and sheet 53A is converted into apressed board 54A. The lock 9A is then released and the roller means 3Awinds up the remaining lengths of the layer 2A, thereby carrying theboards 54A (FIGS. 4 and 5C) onto the stackedconveyor discharge device52A. The latter is constituted in the manner of the stacked-conveyorstations of the system of Patent No. 3,077,271 and is designed totransport the finished plates or sheets into a kiln or the like forfurther treatment or to stack the sheets for such transportation. Itwill be evident that the system of FIGS. 5A to SC requires that theextending means 11A etc. have a suflicient stroke to enable the free endof each layer 2A to be drawn completely across the respective pressplaten as well as across the respective stage of the charging device. Inthe systems of FIGS. 6A-6C, however, the stroke of the extending means11B can be substantially reduced.

In the system of FIGS. 6A-6C, the layer 2B is drawn by the extendingmeans 11B from its roller means 3B only across the length of therespective platen 1B of the press 50B which is of the type described ingreater detail in connection with FIGS. l-4. Again, locking means 913are provided to retain the transverse bar 7B at the free end of thelayer 2B in its extended position. In this system, the charging meansmay include stacked conveyors 51B adapted to shift to the left (FIG. 6A)to deposit the respective mats 53B upon the sheet-transfer layer 2B.Alternatively, the charging station may be constituted by a multistageassembly 51C sing usher means 51C or laterally displacing the mats 53Conto the sheettransfer layer 28. After the mats 5313 or 530 aredeposited upon the layer 213, the press enters its compression stroke(FIG. 6B) in which the mat is converted into the press board 54B. Thelocking means 9B is then released while the continuous drive for theroller reels up the layer 2B and deposits the press board 548 upon theconveyor stages 51B for further transportation of the press board aspreviously described.

The continuous-torque drive for the roller means 3 of each flexiblelayer 2 (FIG. 1) comprises a respective rotaryimpeller hydraulic motor 5Whose output shaft 5a is coupled via a universal joint 5b with atorque-transmission rod 50 and with a further universal joint 5d of theroller shaft 4 of each roller assembly. The hydraulic motors 5, whichare shown to be stacked in FIG. 1, have input and output pipes 5e and 5respectively, and are of the flow-displacement type whereby a continuoustorque is applied to the shaft 4 although this shaft may be lockedagainst rotation, the shaft commencing to rotate upon release of thelocking force. The press 50 is, moreover, provided with the usual headplate 55 and bed plate 56; the latter being elevatable by hydraulicpressure cylinders 57.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the shafts 4 are journaled in bearings 4a atopposite ends of the roller means 3 to the respective platens '1 suchthat the upper surface of each press platen 1 is substantiallytangential to the roller means, the extending means 10, 11, beingengageable with the layers 2 at their free (left-hand) extremities.

At the left-hand extremity of each layer 2, there is provided atransverse bar best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 and described in greaterdetail hereinbelow. The extending means includes a pair of hydraulicpiston-and-cylinder arrangements 11 (FIGS. 2 and 4) adapted tolongitudinally displace the respective connecting rods 10(diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 4) linked with each of thetransverse bars 7. The hydraulic means 11 is designed to displace thelayers 2 in the direction of the arrow 6 (FIG. 4).

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that such transverse bar7 is bolted to the respective flexible sheet-transfer layer 2 ofpolytetrafiuoroethylene foil by bolts 7a and co-operate with a lockingmeans comprising a pair of bellcrank levers 9 pivotally mounted at 20upon the respective press platens. The levers 9 have first lever arms 12provided with male formations 13 engageable in complementary formations(eg. recesses 13) on the transverse bar 7 as well as with abutmentformations 14 engageable with the flanks of the press platens 1 (seeFIG. 3). The other arm 15 of each bellcrank lever 9 co-operates with achannel iron 16 which extends vertically and thus permits verticaldisplacement of the pressed platen but which is swingable outwardly(dotdash lines in FIG. 2) for concurrent control of all of the lockingarms 9 on each side of the press. It will be evident that, after thelayer 2 is drawn in the direction of arrow 6, the locking levers 9 canbe swung inwardly for engagement bp their formations 13 and abutmentsurfaces 14 with the transverse rod 7 on the one hand and the flanks ofthe pressed plate on the other hand, thereby locking the layer 2 againstmovement in the direction of arrow 6 under the continuously appliedtorque of the hydraulic motors 5.

According to a more specific feature of this invention, the inputtraverses 7 are each guided between a pair of rails 19 flanking thelayer 2 along the platen, the traverses 7 extending laterally,advantageously via leaf springs 17 in grooves 18, thereby preventingbinding of the layers 2. The platens 1 are provided with passages 1' forheating fluid, preferably as described in patent application Ser. No.192,040, filed May 1, 1962, and entitled Temperature-Controlled Press,now U.S. Patent No. 3,241,189. The laterally extending cars 20 can servenot only to form pivots for the locking arms 9 but also as a mountingfor the guide rails 19.

As described more generally with regard to FIGS. 5A5C and 6A-6C, thecompression stroke of the press is effected when the extending means 10,11, permits the transverse rods 7 to move into the solid-line positionthereof illustrated in FIG. 2, whereby the arms 9 prevent furtherdisplacement of the layer 2 in the direction of arrow 22. The press canthen close to transform the mats, previously deposited upon the layers2, into pressed boards. Upon opening of the press, the drive means 5etc. displaces the layers 2 in the direction of arrow 22 upon therelease of the locking means 9 etc. to carry the pressed board 54 ontothe discharge station (51A or 51B), thereby simultaneously winding upthe layer 2. Prior to the next press stroke, the extension means 10, 11withdraws the free end 7 of each layer 2 in the direction of arrow 21until this layer at least extends over the major part of the respectivepress platen 1.

The invention described and illustrated is believed to admit of manymodifications within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all suchmodifications being considered within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

1. In a multiplaten press system for the production of pressed board andthe like and including a multiplaten press having a plurality ofsuperposed vertically displacenble press platens adapted to receive matsof a material to be pressed, the improvement which comprises:

a respective flexible sheet-transporting layer overlying each of saidplatens, said platens each having a side for the discharge of arespective pressed board from the press;

respective roller means mounted on each of said platens along said sidefor winding up the respective layer;

extending means engaging a free end of each of said layers for drawingsame across the respective platen for receiving a respective mat to becompressed and thereafter carrying said mat off the respective platenover said side;

a respective continuously energized fluid motor coupled with each ofsaid roller means for continuously applying torque thereto in alayer-winding sense tending to draw said layers in the direction of saidsides; and

locking means on each of said platens engageable with the free end ofthe respective layer for retaining it in an unwound position overlyingthe respective platen at least during the compression stroke of thepress.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said layer is composed ofa polytetrafluoroethylene foil.

3. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein each of said layers isprovided with a respective transverse bar at its free end, said lockingmeans including a pair of bellcrank levers fulcrumed on each of saidplatens for pivotal movement about respective upright axes and flankingthe respective layer in an extended condition thereof, one of the armsof each of the levers of the respective platen and the respective barhaving cooperating formations engageable in a locked condition of therespective layer for retaining same against the force of the respectivemotor, and control means engaging the other arms of the correspondinglevers of the superposed platens while permitting vertical displacementof same for the concurrent release of said layers.

4. The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein the first-mentioned armsof each of said levers is formed with an abutment engageable with aflank of the respective platen in the locked condition of the respectivelayer, said platens each being provided with a pair of guide railsextending parallel to the respective rail and engageable by the oppositeextremities of the respective bar for guiding same, said extremities ofeach bar being provided with spring means bearing upon the respectivelayers, said rails having longitudinally extending grooves receivingsaid springs.

5. The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein each of said platens isprovided with laterally extending projections pivotally supporting saidlevers and carrying said rails.

6. The improvement defined in claim 1, further comprising a multileveldischarge station adjacent said press along said side for receiving theplates discharged by the respective layers, said extending meansincluding rods connected with the respective free ends of said layersfrom the side of said press opposite said discharge station for drawingsaid layers away from said discharge station, and fluid means fordisplacing said rods.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6, further comprising a multilevelcharging station disposed between said fluid means and said press withthe levels of said charging station each being overlain by a respectivelayer in the fully extended condition thereof for depositing said matsupon said layers, said drive means thereafter partly rolling up therespective layers to carry said mats onto said platens.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,813 5/ 1947 Camerota.3,050,777 8/ 1962 Siempelkamp. 3,206,800 9/ 1965 Miiller. 3,241,189 3/1966 Siempelkamp. 3,286,304 11/ 1966 Falkinger et al.

J. HOWARD FLINT, 1a., Primary Examiner.

1. IN A MULTIPLATEN PRESS SYSTEM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PRESSED BOARD ANDTHE LIKE AND INCLUDING A MULTIPLATEN PRESS HAVING A PLURALITY OFSUPERPOSED VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLE PRESS PLATENS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATSOF A MATERIAL TO BE PRESSED, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: ARESPECTIVE FLEXIBLE SHEET-TRANSPORTING LAYER OVERLYING EACH OF SAIDPLATENS, SAID PLATENS EACH HAVING A SIDE FOR THE DISCHARGE OF ARESPECTIVE PRESSED BOARD FROM THE PRESS; RESPECTIVE ROLLER MEANS MOUNTEDON EACH OF SAID PLATENS ALONG SAID SIDE FOR WINDING UP THE RESPECTIVELAYER; EXTENDING MEANS ENGAGING A FREE END OF EACH OF SAID LAYERS FORDRAWING SAME ACROSS THE RESPECTIVE PLATEN FOR RECEIVING A RESPECTIVE MATTO BE COMPRESSED AND THEREAFTER CARRYING SAID MAT OFF THE RESPECTIVEPLATEN OVER SAID SIDE; A RESPECTIVE CONTINUOUSLY ENERGIZED FLUID MOTORCOUPLED WITH EACH OF SAID ROLLER MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING TORQUETHERETO IN A LAYER-WINDING SENSE TENDING TO DRAW SAID LAYERS IN THEDIRECTION OF SAID SIDES; AND LOCKING MEANS ON EACH OF SAID PLATENSENGAGEABLE WITH THE FREE END OF THE RESPECTIVE LAYER FOR RETAINING IT INAN UNWOUND POSITION OVERLYING THE RESPECTIVE PLATEN AT LEAST DURING THECOMPRESSION STROKE OF THE PRESS.